US '60s Music: Most Weeks at Number One Quiz

Answer: The Theme from "A Summer Place"

"The Theme from "A Summer Place" was written by Max Steiner. It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Percy Faith and his Orchestra in 1960. It peaked at number two on the UK singles chart the same year.

It was written for the 1959 movie "A Summer Place" starring Richard Egan, Dorothy McGuire, Sandra Dee, Arthur Kennedy and Troy Donahue. It was recorded for the movie by Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra but it was not the main title theme. Max Steiner also recorded the track with The 101 Strings Orchestra.

There were vocal versions released with lyrics by Mack Discant. The highest chart position was reached by The Lettermen, when their version peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1965.

Answer: Tossin' And Turnin'

"Tossin' And Turnin'" was written by Ritchie Adams/Malou Rene. It was number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Bobby Lewis in 1961. It did not chart in the UK.

Later in 1961 Bobby Lewis had two more chart hits with "One Track Mind" (number 9) and "What A Walk" (number 77). 13 months later in 1962 he had his last Billboard Hot 100 entry with "I'm Tossin' And Turnin' Again" which peaked at number 98 and was on the chart for only one week.

"Tossin' And Turnin'" was featured on the soundtrack of the 1978 movie "Animal House". There have been a number of cover versions which include Chad Allan & the Expressions (The Guess Who?) (1965), The Kingsmen (1966), The Supremes (1972) and Joan Jett and The Blackhearts (1983).

Answer: Sherry

"Sherry" was written by Bob Gaudio. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The 4 Seasons in 1962. It peaked at number eight on the UK singles chart the same year.

Bob Gaudio has said that "Sherry" took about 15 minutes to write and was inspired by the earlier 1962 number one hit, "Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel. It was originally entitled "Jackie Baby" in honour of President John F. Kennedy's wife, the then First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy.

The Four Seasons went on to have five US number one hits, "Sherry" (1962), "Big Girls Don't Cry (1962), "Walk Like A Man" (1963), "Rag Doll" (1964) and "December '63, (Oh, What A Night). The other two songs that spent five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 were "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles and "Big Girls Don't Cry" by The Four Seasons.

Answer: Sugar Shack

"Sugar Shack" was written by Keith McCormack/Jimmy Torres. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs in 1963. It peaked at number 45 on the UK singles chart the same year.

As an instrumental group without Jimmy Gilmer, The Fireballs had a number of minor hits on the Billboard Hot 100 in the late '50s and early '60s. They also recorded a number of new backing tracks for posthumous Buddy Holly releases with their producer Norman Petty.

Three of the group members quit the group in the early '60s leaving George Tomsco (lead guitar) and Stan Lark (bass). They recruited new members including Norman Petty's Clovis, studio singer/pianist Jimmy Gilmer and they were then billed as Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs. After "Sugar Shack" they had one more Top 20 hit with "Daisy Petal Pickin" which peaked at number 15. In 1968 without Jimmy Gilmer, The Fireballs reached number nine with "Bottle Of Wine".

Answer: I Want To Hold Your hand

"I Want To Hold Your Hand" was written by Lennon/McCartney. It was number one for seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beatles in 1964. It was number one for five weeks on the UK singles chart in 1963/64.

"I Want To Hold Your Hand" entered the Billboard Hot 100 on Jan 1 1964 at number 45 and reached the top on Feb 1 1964. After seven weeks at number one The Beatles replaced themselves at the top with "She Loves You", which was number one for two weeks.

In the UK "I Want To Hold Your Hand" had advance orders exceeding 1,000,000 copies and would almost certainly have entered the UK singles chart at number one. The only thing stopping them were themselves, they were already at number one with their first UK 1,000,000 seller, "She Loves You".

Answer: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was written by Jagger/Richards. It was number one for four weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Rolling Stones in 1965. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was first recorded at Chess Studios in Chicago, Illinois, USA, with Brian Jones on harmonica. Two days later they recorded the version that we all know and love at the RCA Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles, USA, using the Gibson Maestro fuzzbox. Because of the songs success sales of the Gibson Maestro fuzzbox were so, that all available stock was sold out by the end of 1965.

"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" was not released in the UK until after it had been knocked off the top in the US by "I'm Henry the Eighth, I Am" by Herman's Hermits in August. This was because at the time their record company Decca, was preparing to release the live EP "Got Live If You Want It! in the UK".

Answer: The Ballad Of The Green Berets

"The Ballad Of The Green Berets" was written by Robin Moore/Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler. It was number one for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler in 1966. It peaked at number 24 on the UK singles chart the same year.

"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. The lyrics were written in honour of Green Beret US Army Specialist 5 James Gabriel Jr. He was the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam, he was killed by the Viet Cong in 1962 aged 24.

There were many covers and parodies of the song. One by the group The Beach Bums featuring Bob Seger, recorded "The Ballad of the Yellow Beret". It chronicled the adventures of a draft dodger but was withdrawn after a cease and desist letter from Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler.

Answer: I'm A Believer

"I'm A Believer" was written by Neil Diamond. It was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Monkees in 1967. It was number one for four weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

In the USA, "I'm A Believer" had in excess of 1,000,000 advance orders and earned a Gold Disc within two days of it's release. It has now sold more than 10,000,000 copies world wide. It was the last US number one hit of 1966 and the best selling US single of 1967.

Musicians that played at the recording session were Jeff Barry on piano and tambourine, Artie Butler on Vox Continental organ, Sal Ditroia on guitar, Al Gorgoni ("The Sound of Silence"/"Brown Eyed Girl"/"Cherry, Cherry") on guitar, Dick Romoff on bass and Buddy Saltzman on drums.

Answer: Hey Jude

"Hey Jude" was written by Lennon/McCartney. It was number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for The Beatles in 1968. It was number one for two weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

After being at number one for nine weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, "Hey Jude" tied with "Mack The Knife" by Bobby Darin and "The Theme from "A Summer Place" by Percy Faith and his Orchestra for most weeks at number one in the '60s.

The story goes that Paul McCartney wrote "Hey Jules" (to comfort Julian) in the car on his way to Weybridge, Surrey, in the UK to visit Cynthia & Julian Lennon after Cynthia's separation from John. When explaining the song to John, Paul mentioned that he wasn't happy with the line "the movement you need is on your shoulder". Paul suggested that he might change it to which John is supposed to have replied: "You won't, you know, that's the best line in the song.

Answer: In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)

"In The Year 2525" was written by Rick Evans. It was number one for six weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 for Zager & Evans in 1969. It was number one for three weeks on the UK singles chart the same year.

Danny Zager and Rick Evans paid $500 (which they borrowed) to pay for the recording session to make the record. They then released it on their own label and took it around local record shops and radio stations. They also sent copies to many major record companies and it was RCA that picked it up and signed them to a record deal.

In the US "In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" was replaced at number one by "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones. In the UK it was the other way round. Zager & Evans never had another chart hit in the US or the UK, exordium & terminus.